Mangalore :Union ministry of tourism is contemplating on developing infrastructure across an 8,000-km stretch of coastal areas in the nation to attract tourists. Union minister for tourism Subodh Kant Sahay told STOI that coastal states were asked to submit detailed reports on tourism projects that can be implemented on the coast. “Within a month, we may get reports from states and very soon initiatives will be taken to implement various tourism projects in coastal regions in the nation.

We must play with the sea also to tap the tourism potential,” Sahay said, after inaugurating information centres of Jungle Lodges and Resorts Limited and Kerala Tourism Information at Mangalore Airport, Kenjar near here on Saturday. He said 25 tourism projects were chalked out for the state under special mega tourism project.

“A total of Rs 50 crore has been earmarked for the purpose. Mangalore is a transit centre for Karnataka and Kerala and the economy of the city will get a boost with the introduction of various tourism activities. We are coming out with tourism parks, entertainment parks and cultural activity centres here.

Coastal tourism and cultural tourism need to be given prominence,” he said adding that Karnataka and Kerala can create final destinations for tourism in the nation.

“Tourism is the only sector, which generate more employment. At least 78 people would get job for every investment of Rs 10 lakh in tourism sector,” he said and added that states should make tourism a economic and political agenda.State minister for tourism Anand Singh and department principal secretary Latha Krishna Rao were present. -Times of India